Statistics show Lebanon VA has lower average wait times than national average

When Raymond Moul first got out of the service in 1974, he went to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinic.

He said he didn't have a good experience.

"I was kind of put off by that," he said, later adding, "The people just didn't really care how they treated you."

Moul, of West Manchester Township, said he stayed away for about 20 years. Increasing medical costs brought him back to the VA.

"It was completely different," Moul said. "So I've been very happy with them ever since."

The VA has been caught in a scandal over patient wait times and allegations of data fraud. President Barack Obama on May 30 accepted the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, after federal investigators say they substantiated allegations that significant delays negatively impacted the quality care at a Phoenix facility.

A May 28 interim report from the VA Office of Inspector General said investigations were scheduled or ongoing at more than 40 VA medical facilities and investigators "have identified instances of manipulation of VA data that distort the legitimacy of reported waiting times." The report didn't identify the locations of those 40-plus facilities.

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Despite the national scandal, Moul, 69, and some other local veterans and their advocates praised the local system, which includes the Lebanon VA Medical Center and outpatient clinics.

"They're doing a magnificent job," said Barre Shepp, mentor coordinator for York County's veterans treatment court, "and the veterans that I talk to say they couldn't be happier with the time it takes for them to get certain care."

Nathan Chaney, right, an assistant supervisor with Disabled American Veterans, helps Robert Thoman, a Vietnam veteran from the Red Lion area, with his paperwork in the organization's mobile service office on Thursday. The program was providing counseling and services to veterans in conjunction with state Rep. Seth Grove's office. (Jason Plotkin - Daily Record/Sunday News)

Stats

USA Today posted information obtained from the VA under the Freedom of Information Act about new patients seeking a primary care appointment at VA medical centers or clinics.

For Lebanon, the data showed 75 percent of new patients obtained an appointment within 14 days, and the average new patient wait was 14.1 days. Nationwide, the average wait was 27 days, according to the data USA Today obtained.

The average wait time was 34.6 days for Baltimore and 30.7 days for Pittsburgh. The USA Today article noted that fraud could skew the data.

Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson said in a statement Thursday that the VA plans to release results from a nationwide audit and patient access data for all medical centers. Gibson said the data will demonstrate the extent of the systemic problems.

Robert Thoman from Red Lion, who was injured during service in Vietnam, met with Disabled American Veterans workers to help with his with his paperwork in the organization's mobile service office on Thursday. Thoman said he relies on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for health care. Despite the national scandal, Thoman said he's satisfied with the service he gets. (Jason Plotkin - Daily Record/Sunday News)

Robert Thoman, a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran from the Red Lion area, relies on the VA. He said he hasn't been to a private doctor in years.

"I've never really had to wait long," Thoman said.

He said he's usually able to get an appointment in a day or two.

Phil Palandro, director of veterans affairs for York County, praised Lebanon and its outpatient clinics. He said most of the veterans he knows have nothing but good things to say about the local system.

His department is an advocacy agency that helps veterans get benefits. It's not part of the federal government. He said many people in Washington, D.C. knew that the VA nationally has "been an overworked and overrun system for a long time."

Palandro said he'd like to see more healthcare facilities for veterans nationally "so they can lighten the load and help these people out."

"That's the budget. They've got to allocate money," Palandro added.

Tim Reinaman, commander of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said he uses a private doctor and the VA.

He said the veterans he talks to don't have complaints about the VA. He said he hopes there's a thorough investigation nationally and that the people responsible are held accountable.

"You might as well start at the top and keep whacking," Reinaman said. "There are more than one or two individuals that were involved in that situation."

Disabled American Veterans

On Thursday, Disabled American Veterans had a mobile service office set up in West Manchester Township.

Nathan Chaney, an assistant supervisor with Disabled American Veterans, known as DAV, said his organization helps veterans and their families file claims for disability and related benefits.

He said the group provides general information about what's available through the VA healthcare system.

He said veterans have asked questions about the wait list issue.

"I just let them know that the DAV is definitely keeping a watchful eye on that," Chaney said.

Moul stopped at the DAV mobile service office Thursday, because he wanted to seek a higher disability rating from the VA.

Moul said he receives benefits for a 40 percent disability rating, including for diabetes and a leg and ankle injury. He said he's learned that he has heart disease and kidney disease because of Agent Orange exposure.

Moul said he's covered by Medicare, so he goes to a mix of private and VA doctors. He goes through the VA for six-month eye exams, yearly blood work and some other reasons.

"They've always been good to me," Moul said.

The DAV mobile service office was stationed outside the district office of state Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover Township. Grove's father, Thomas, uses the VA healthcare system.

"He's never had any problems whatsoever," Grove said. "...He loves it. He raves about it."

But Grove said what's happening nationally is, at a minimum, disrespectful.

"We obviously need to do a much better job taking care of those who have taken care of us," he said.

Contact Ed Mahon at 717-771-2089.

DAV and the VA

Joseph W. Johnston, national commander for Disabled American Veterans, wrote on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system has been underfunded over the past decade.

In a Friday post, he said veterans who would be required to wait beyond a medically reasonable time for care should have the option of having the VA coordinate and pay for that care at a non-VA provider.

He said proposals "to expand or enhance access to care must include full, accurate, honest and transparent funding that is separate from the budget required to operate VA's existing hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities and programs."

David Hill, right, a national service officer with Disabled American Veterans, is thanked by John Fisher, a Vietnam veteran from the Dover area, after they met in the organization's mobile service office on Thursday. Hill's organization has made recommendations for how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs should improve health care for veterans. (Jason Plotkin - Daily Record/Sunday News)